News in Brief: A State Capitals Roundup

Mich. Audit Finds Charter School Problems

Several charter schools approved by Central Michigan University have
hired uncertified teachers and did not complete criminal-background
checks on some employees, according to a recent state audit.

The report from state Auditor General Thomas H. McTavish made 19
recommendations to the university in areas ranging from financial
oversight to the hiring policies of charter schools.

During the 1996-97 school year, Central Michigan was the authorizing
body for 40 independently run public charter schools that served 7,416
students and received $1.7 million in state aid.

Rae Goldsmith, a spokeswoman for the university, said that most of
the problems have been fixed or are being addressed.

The concerns over hiring and background checks stemmed from
confusion over who was responsible for such tasks, she said. "We don't
have any apologies for doing a real good job without good guidelines on
charter schools from the state," Ms. Goldsmith added.

Alaska Governor Pushes Accountability Plan

Gov. Tony Knowles of Alaska has proposed a school accountability
package of mandatory standards, comprehensive tests, and rewards and
sanctions based on school performance.

Mr. Knowles, a Democrat, plans to unveil legislation in January to
authorize his "Quality Schools" plan.

The plan would mandate standards in reading, writing, and math, and
require exams based on those standards for children in age groups 5-7,
8-10, and 11-14. Also under the plan, all Alaska students would have to
pass a high school exit exam.

Student performance would be used to classify schools into one of
four categories: distinguished, successful, in decline, or in
crisis.

Technical-assistance teams would be sent to low-performing schools,
and the state could ultimately take over schools that failed to improve
over two years.

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